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Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA hits the road in Italy

Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA tours Sicily

The Mercedes-Benz Concept EQA is clearly edging closer to production, with a rolling prototype taking to the streets of Italy in a stunning new promo video.

Just how much of the sci-fi-style prototype will make it through to production remains entirely unknown, but it’s impossible to deny the EQA cuts a truly sleek and futuristic figure as it silently prowls the island of Sicily.

First revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2017, the EQA will be the second full-EV from Benz (following the EQC SUV, which is scheduled for production next year) under its new EQ sub-brand. But the “A” is considerably smaller - an A-Class-sized hatch that will serve up a circa-400km range.

Powered by twin electric motors (one at each axle), the EQA will be good for more than 200kW, and the location of the motors allows the driver to choose between standard all-wheel drive, or sending more power to the rear tyres in the Sport or Sport Plus driving modes.

Cooler still, the grille is actually made up of tiny LED lights which change depending on which drive program you’re in. Lock it into Sport mode, and the grille transforms into a horizontal wing, while Sport Plus sees the thick vertical slats of the Panamericana grille appear.

It’s all part of the Mercedes EQ (it stands for Electric Intelligence) push, with the brand promising to have an electric version every model in its lineup by 2022, of which as many as 10 could sit under the EQ sub-brand. The first in the EQ range will be the EQC; a 300kW, 500km-range SUV that will go into production in 2019.

And in exciting news for EV fans in Oz, the EQA has been confirmed for right-hand-drive production, with Mercedes in Australia making no secret of their desire to bring the electric hatch to Australia.

Mercedes' Australian executives have been contacted for an update.

Can the EQA survive through to production unchanged? Tell us in the comments below.